Broiler



-May 7, 1929. B. F. E'LBERT BROILER Filed March 27, 1928 [muerrior Afiorwe qs.

Patented May 7, 19290 UNITED STATES mum PATENT OFFICE.

BEHJAIEIN F. ELBERT, OF IDES IVIOINES, IOV/A, ASSIGNOR TO B 82 G SPECIALTY COM- PANY, OF VFASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUIVIBIA, A CORPORATION OF THE DIS- TRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BROILER.

Application filed March 27, 1928.

The object of my invention is to provide a broiler of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, especially designed for use in connection with a grate or heating surtace presented vertically, and so arranged that the position 035 one of the broiler grids relative to the other may be readily, quickly and easily adjusted so that the grids will iirmly clamp between them articles to cooked oi varying thicknesses; and also to provide a device of this *haracter in which the parts may be readily, quickly and e sily folded to occupy a minimum space tor shipping and storing.

My invention consists in the cop trucrion, arrangement and combination oi: the various parts 01 the device, whereby the ob ec contemplated are attained, as nere uai more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation oi. a broiler embodying my invention.

Figure 2 shows a side elevati 1 of same with an article to be cooked between the grids. The dotted lines in this figure show the path of movement oi the folding grid connecting devices.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged, detail, tional-view on the line 3 3 of Figui The dotted lines show the adjacent grid con necting member in folded position.

Figure shows an enlarged, do; i, 1 spective view oi; a portion or one or tne rid members, showing one of the grid connecting members in folded position and Figure 5 shows a detail perspective view illustrating the projecting hook device on one of the g id members to co-operate witl the connecting member on the other grid member.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 have used the reierence numeral to indicate generally one of the gridnunubers, which is of the ordinary construction, and is provided with a handle 11. This grid member 10 has at one of its side edges two hooks 12 designed to support the broiler in an upright position upon two supporting rods 13, as shown in Figure 1. The other grid member is indicated generally by the reference numeral 1% and is provided with a handle 15.

At the outer end of one of the grid members are two grid connecting devices, each Serial No. 265,008.

of which comprises a flat sheet metal body portion 16 having one end curved at 17 to partially encircle the end wire of the The end of the part 17 is so arranged that it will engage one of the lon itudinal grid wires when the body portion 16 is in position at right angles to the grid to which it is hinged, as clearly shown in Figure 3, thus limiting the outward movement of the connecting member 16.

On the side edges of the part 16 are formed shoulders 18 so shaped that when the plate 16 is in position nearly parallel witli the longitudinal wires of the grid, these shoulders will engage the two adjacent longitudinal wires and limit the downward movement of the connecting member 16. This connecting member is provided with a series of openings 19 for purposes hereinafter made clear.

At the central portion of the opposite edge oi the grid there is a similar conneetin member 20 hingedly connected to swing from a nearly horizontal position over grid to position substantially at right angles to the grid.

On the opposite grid member I have provided two connecting bars 21, fixed to and projecting from the outer end of the grid, their projecting ends being slightly curved away from the other grid, as clearly shown in l igures 3 and These bars 21 are so spaced relative to each other that they may both be projected through the openings 19 in the connecting plates 16 when the two g 1 members are in the same plane, as shown in Figure 1.

Slidingly mounted upon the handle 11 are two retaining loops 22 and 23, one being of larger diameter than the other, and being so arranged that when the two grids are widely separated, the larger retaining member 22 may be slipped over the handle and when the grids are relatively close together, the smaller retaining member 23 may be our ployed.

In practical use, and for purposes of shipping or storing, the connecting plates 16 and are folded down flat against the grid member 10, and then the grid member 14 is placed on top of them and the retaining members 23 and 22 are slid over the handles until close to the grids, and the entire device is thereby held together and occupies a minimum of space,

\Vhen it is desired to use the broiler for a comparatively thin steak, the operator raises the connecting plates 16 and 20 to position at right angles to the grid, and he then inserts the rods 21 of the grid member 14 into the lower ones of the openings 19. He then swings the grid member 14 to position parallel with the grid member 10 and clamps it in this position by means of the retaining member 23.

When it is desired to broil a relatively thick article, the operator places the article upon the grid 10, elevates the handle 15 of the grid 14 and inserts the rods 21 into the upper ones of the openings 19, and then moves the grid 14 down to position parallel with the grid 10 and then bends the handle 15 downwardly a slight distance toward the handle 11, as shown in Figure 2, and then places the retaining member 22 on the handle member 15.

\Vhen in this position, obviously the grid members willaccurately fit the surfaces of the article clamped between them, and they will forcibly hold the article in this position. The connecting plates 16 prevent movement of the grid member 14 in a direction away from the handles, and the plate 20 prevents movement of the grid 14 in a direction toward the handles. Furthermore, the rods 21 and the openings 19 prevent movement of the grid members laterally relative to each other. Hence, with my improved broiler articles to be cooked of various thicknosses and shapes may be readily and quickly firmly clamped between the grid members, and the broiler may then be supported in upright position, as shown in Figure 1, without danger of having the article to be cooked slip out between the grip members.

I claim as my invention:

1. A broiler comprising in combination two grid members, a handle for each grid member, a connecting plate hinged to the outer end of one of the grid members and capable of movement from position approximately parallel with the grid member to po sition substantially at right angles to the grid member, a second connecting plate hinged to the opposite end of the said grid member and capable of movement from position approximately parallel with the grid member to position approximately at right angles thereto. a connecting rod on the opposite grid member adjustably, detachably and pivotally connected with one of the hinged connecting plates and held against movement in one direction by the other connecting plate, and means for holding the handle members toward each other.

2. An improved broiler, comprising a grid member having round wires at its ends and longitudinally extended wires between the ends, two connecting members, each comprising a body portion having a series of openings therein and hinged at one end to the adjacent end rod of the broiler and capable of movement from position nearly parallel with the broiler to position substantially at right angles thereto, and being limited against further movement, a third connecting member hinged to the opposite end wire of the grid member and capable of movement from position approximately parallel to the broiler to position substantially at right angles thereto and held against further movement, a second grid member having a handle, and having at one end two projecting rods designed to enter said openings in the connecting members, the latter grid member being held against movement toward the handle end 01? the grid members by the third one of said connecting plates -when the latter is in position substantially at right angles to the grid member with wh ieh itis connected, and means tor clamping together the handle members of the grids.

An improved broiler, comprising a grid member having round wires at its ends and longitudinally extended wires between the ends, two connecting memliiers, each comprising a body portion having a series of openings therein and hinged at one end to the adjaeent end rod of the broiler and capable of movement from position nearly parallel with the broiler to position substantially at right angles thereto, and being limited against further movement, a third connecting member hinged to the opposite end'wire of the grid member and capable of movement from position approximately parallel to the broiler to position substantially at right angles thereto and held against further movement, a second grid member having a handle, and having at one end two projecting rods designed to enter said openings in the connecting members, the latter grid member being held against movement toward the handle end of the grid members by the third one of said connecting plates when the latter is in position substantially at right angles to the grid member with which it is connetced, and means for clamping together the handle members of the grids, said connecting members being pivoted to the grid between the longitudinal wires of the grid, and being formed with shoulders designed to engage the two adjacent longitudinal wires when folded to position substantially parallel with the grid.

Des Moines, Iowa, March 20, 1928.

BENJAMIN F. ELBERT. 

